Combination step-ladder and bench.



O. GOETTER. COMBINATION STEP LADDER AND BENOH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, 1911.

Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

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CHARLES GOETTER, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS.

COMBINATION STEP-LADDER AND BENCH.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES GOETTER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Step-Ladders and Benches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in a combination step ladder and bench, the present construction being an improvement of the construction disclosed in my prior Patent No. 907,491, dated October 16th, 1908.

The object of the present invention is the production of a device of the character mentioned, which shall be of improved construction and of high efiiciency in use. Other objects will appear hereinafter.

WVith these objects in view my invention consists in a device characterized as above mentioned and in certain details of construction and arrangements of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a combination step ladder and bench embodying my invention, the same being shown arranged for service as a step ladder, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device arranged in position for service as a bench or cot, the legs and head rest being shown in folded position in broken lines, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail side elevation of the upper end portion of the device in position for use as a step ladder.

The preferred form of my invention-as illustrated in the drawing comprises a ladder portion which consists of the parallel side standards 1 which are permanently connected at their upper and lower ends by the steps 2 and 2 and intermediate their ends by the step 3, the latter being secured at its extremities to blocks l secured to the inner sides of the standards 1, said blocks 1 being adapted to serve as stops as will be set forth in the following. Arranged between the standards 1 are auxiliary ladder sections 5 the upper of said auxiliary ladder sections being pivotally secured adjacent the upper extremities of the standards 1 by Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 24, 1911.

Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

Serial No. 629,163.

spective extremities of the blocks 4 which serve to maintain said sections in proper position, said abutting ends of said blocks and sections being inclined as shown so that any weight upon said sections will tend to more firmly force the same into engagement with said blocks.

Pivotally secured to the upper end of the ladder portion is the brace port-ion comprising the side members 7 and the transversely extending connecting members 8. The construction is such as will be observed, that the brace and ladder portions are adapted to be folded together as shown in Fig. 2 and the auxiliary ladder sections 5 to be swung outwardly or downwardly to serve as legs in the formation of a bench or cot, the connecting pieces 8 of the brace portion being in this arrangement adapted to serve as the top of the bench or cot. Provided at the upper end of the ladder section at the back thereof is a transversely extending member 9 which is secured to the standards 1, the member 9 being adapted, when the device is arranged for service as a cot, to traverse the space between the uppermost of the members 8 of the brace portion and the upper step 2 of the ladder portion, said member.9 being adapted to serve as a support for a pillow when the device is used as a cot. The extremities of the member 9 project beyond the sides of the standards 1 so that said member is of equal length with the members 8, the adjacent ends of the side members 7 of the brace portion being cut away as at 10 to accommodate said ends of said member 9.

Extending between. and connecting the brace portion and the ladder portion is a foldable connecting bar 11 which serves to limit the degree of separation of said ladder and brace portions when the device is used as a ladder. The respective ends of the member 11 as will be observed are connected with one of the members 8 of the brace portion and one of the steps at the free or upper end of the lowermost of the auxiliary sections 5. By virtue of the latter arrangement it will be observed, that when the device is arranged for service as a ladder, the bar 11 will also serve as a means of positively maintaining the section 5 in operative position, precluding the possibility of said section swinging outwardly and thereby obviating the possibility of injury from this source. When the device is in collapse or folded position the bar 11 is adapted to be folded together to occupy a minimum space as shown in broken lines in Fig. 2.

I-Iingedly secured as at 12 to the upper step 2 of the ladder portion is an extension step 13. To the free end of the step extension 13 are connected supporting bars 14 the inner or lower slotted ends of said bars engaging the pivot pins 6 as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 8. Provided in the bars 14 are notches 15 which are adapted to engage the pin 6 in order to maintain the extension 13 in inclined position as shown in Fig. in which position said extension is adapted to serve as a head rest. The bars let are so connected with the pivot pin 6 as to permit of the extension 13 being folded back as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 so as to occupy a minimum space, this being the position thereof when the deviceis in storage or is being packed for shipment.

A device of the construction set forth is durable and economical and the same is adapted to effectually serve in either of the capacities above set forth.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form for carrying out my invention this is capable of variation or modification. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, a ladder portion comprising a pair of side standards and a plurality of steps; short auxiliary ladder sections pivotally mounted between said standards adjacent the respective ends thereof; means on said standards forming stops for the free ends of said auxiliary ladder members when the device is used as a ladder; a back brace portion constituting in one position the table of a bench, said auxiliary ladder sections being adapted to swing outwardly to form legs for said bench; and means connected with said brace member and the lowermost of said auxiliary ladder portions for limiting the degree of separation of said ladder and brace portions, said means serving also to maintain the free end of said lowermost auxiliary ladder section in position against said stop means, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described, a ladder portion comprising a pair of side standards and a plurality of steps; short auxiliary ladder sections pivotally mounted between said standards adjacent the respective ends thereof; means on said standards forming stops for the free ends of said auxiliary ladder members when the device is used as a ladder; a back brace portion constituting in one position the table of a bench, said auxiliary ladder sections being adapted to swing outwardly to form legs for said bench; and foldable means connected with said brace member and the free end of the lowermost of said auxiliary ladder sections for limiting the degree of separation of said ladder and brace portions, said means serving also to maintain said lowermost auxiliary ladder sections in position for service as a ladder, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, a ladder portion comprising a pair of side standards and a plurality of steps; short auxiliary ladder sections pivotally mounted between said standards adjacent the respective ends thereof; means on said standards forming stops for the free ends of said auxiliary ladder members when used as a ladder; a back brace portion pivotally secured to said ladder portion and adapted in one position to constitute the top of a cot, said auxiliary ladder sections being adapted to swing outwardly to form legs for said cot; an extension for the top step of said ladder hingedly secured thereto, said extension being adapted also to serve as a head rest when the device is used as a cot; and notched bars adapted to engage studs for holding said extension in inclined position for service as a head rest, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my i name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES GOETTER.

l/Vit-nesses W. C. SMITH, JOSHUA R. H. Porrs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

i Washington, D. G. 

